Death of London’s foremost music PR

Death of London’s foremost music PR

main

norman lebrecht

November 17, 2020

The London Symphony Orchestra has just announced the death of Dvora Lewis, its press relations manager for 37 years until her retirement and a trusted friend of many musicians. Aside from the LSO, she represented the Verbier Festival and many individual stars.

I have known her throughout that time and, for all that we were often on opposite sides, we never once raised our voices or exchanged a crossed word. She was a good lady.

Among other merits, she trained most of today’s PRs, who gathered (below) at her last LSO concert.

My condolences to Michael and her daughters, and to the LSO who cherished her.

 

Comments

  • Martin Engstroem says:

    She was indeed a very good person and knew her craft better than anyone I have ever worked with. I am grateful for those years we worked together and for everything she taught me. My deepest condolences to Michel.

  • Lady Weidenfeld says:

    That is indeed sad news! She was synonymous with PR in music and such a warm and staunch supporter of all the artists and organisations she represented. She and Michael were always together at all the concerts – I don’t think I ever saw her without him. She will be much missed and I join in condolences to Michael and their family.

  • Miguel Esteban says:

    This is indeed sad news. I have intensely fond memories of working with Dvora during my association with the Verbier Festival. She swiftly achieved results we never imagined possible for a nascent festival haphazardly plopped on a 1500m-high, Alpine cul-de-sac — and she remarkably kept bettering herself year after year. It took quite a bit of wooing to convince her to take on the assignment as her plate was overflowing at the time, but after she did, she remained faithful to and protective of the Verbier Festival for many years. I treasure having known this intelligent, witty and caring person. (Trying to teach her how to consume miso soup at Miyako in Geneva is one of my greatest memories: we hilariously failed, she insisted on using a spoon.) I send my heartfelt condolences to Michael and to the family.

  • Eleanor Hope says:

    I’m so very sad to hear this news — Dvora was a wonderful colleague and we worked together on many challenging projects. All conversations always began with laughter! Heartfelt condolences to Dvora’s family and friends – it was an honour and a delight to know her.

  • Ingrid Sutej says:

    Sad to hear this news. She was a fine lady and the ultimate pro.

  • CHARLES KAYE says:

    She was more than a ‘good lady’ – a ‘grande dame’ in every sense of the term. All of us who worked closely with her will miss her hugely – and I feel privileged and blessed to hold high her unique example and share it with those in the music business. We can all learn from her.
    Condolences to Michael and family – and may the memory of her twinkle and smile give strength in the time ahead….

  • Zenaida des Aubris says:

    Very sad news! How well I remember the strategy sessions we had in her cozy London office about a project, which at that time seemed bizarre – staging Turandot in the Forbidden City in Beijing with Zubin Mehta and Zhang Yimou. Dvora helped so much in making it the success it turned out to be. My sincere condolences to her family.

    • Nick2 says:

      I attended one of those Turandot performances. Although the tickets were hugely expensive, it was a very special occasion, although less a result of Mehta and his Florence Opera forces and much more to the setting and Zhang Yimou’s wonderful production.

      It is often forgotten that two performances of the Verdi Requiem were also included in that short season. These were to have taken place in the Century Theatre. Ticket sales, though were apparently very poor so the two were merged into one and moved to the huge Great Hall of the People. This was a disaster. Thousands of local Beijingers were allowed in at very modest prices or nothing at all, unfortunately few of whom had much interest in music. The result was a great deal of running around and noise during the performance.

      It also seemed as though no one had paid any attention whatever to the amplified sound balance. We sat in our expensive seats and could hear nothing for at least the first minute. Thereafter it was all very patchy. Having flown to Beijing for the performances, it certainly took the gloss off the previous evening’s Turandot. In fact I would call it a rip off. Mr. des Aubris and those on his team may bask in the glory, but those who planned the marketing and production of that week-end might have given a bit more attention to those who paid well over $1,000 fir tickets.

  • Denise Kantor says:

    Deeply saddened to hear this news and my condolences go to Michael and the family. I worked for Dvora in the 1980s and recall this being a period of great fun and hard work, and I was always hugely grateful for the inspiration she gave me when the time came to move on. It was a huge privilege and honour to know and work for her and she will be sorely missed.

  • Sue Fox says:

    Dvora was unique. I will cherish the memories of the many adventures she took me on as a journalist working in the best of times for Classical Music stories…… hurtling around London in her car or shlepping up to the magic Mountain in Verbier during the Festival Dvora was huge fun, absolutely professional, generous and, to quote her own best compliment…. ‘a total star’
    Thinking of Michael and her beloved family on this saddest of days.

  • Jane Krivine says:

    So sad. I have only the warmest memories of Dvora, who was truly admired by everyone who worked with her. She rightly dominated the world of classical music PR for decades.

  • Chris Pollard (ex Gramophone) says:

    Missed this sad news: Dvora seemed to me just the classiest of them all. Funny and friendly, but impeccably professional and infinitely knowledgeable. Always worth attending anything run by Dvora, it was bound to be worthwhile, and it was bound to be a good event.

  • MOST READ TODAY: